Noa Essengue is getting real minutes in the Bulls' preseason after a quiet rookie year
Noa Essengue, the 19-year-old forward out of Ratiopharm Ulm, played in five Bulls preseason games this October and scored in every one. Last season he logged just 2 games and 3.0 minutes a night. He is not on the injury report, and the Bulls exercised his 2027/28 option on October 20.
By the Bulls Nightly Desk · updated 24 h ago01The story of the nightA preseason that looked nothing like last yearEssengue's rookie season was two appearances in late November 2025, 2.1 and 3.9 minutes, zero points in both.
Essengue's rookie season was two appearances in late November 2025, 2.1 and 3.9 minutes, zero points in both. The preseason this fall was a different story. He played at least 14.8 minutes in all five games and topped out at 22.6 minutes against Denver, where he put up 8 points and 6 rebounds. He also had 7 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists in the win over Milwaukee and 5 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist against Minnesota. Chicago went 3-2 in those games, and his plus-minus was positive in four of the five.
02The front office picked up his optionOn October 20 the Bulls exercised their 2027/28 options on Essengue and Buzelis, a routine step that keeps the…
On October 20 the Bulls exercised their 2027/28 options on Essengue and Buzelis, a routine step that keeps the second-year forward under contract for another season. Five days earlier he showed up in Joe Cowley's Bulls notes alongside Miller, Smith, Jones and the second unit, which is where his preseason minutes came from. He is listed at 6-9 and 194 pounds, wears number 2, and has no injury history. The regular-season numbers that matter have not been written yet, but the preseason gave him his first real sample of NBA minutes.
